Block Exchange

I just got back home from block exchange. I'm going to post only 2 pictures and direct you to Cyndee, Linda, and Ruth for more pix from the evening.

This quilt was made by Bonnnie. She did a clever take on the Courthouse Square pattern.























I pushed hard last weekend to finish the Ocean Waves border on the Mermaid quilt for tonight's show and tell.


















Now I'm ready to applique some friends for Colleen in the form of fish, sea horses and star fish.

Till next time...... Happy Quilting!

More Quilts from MQN

Here are a few more quilts from the Michigan Quilt Network's Showcase last weekend.

"A Garden For My Wedding Ring"























"Stars Around My Garden."























"Blocks of the Past."























My favorite was this "Love Apple" from the antique collection of April and her mom, Virginia.























I'm really enjoying all the quilt show pictures on our blogs. With three quilt shows in one weekend, it's great to see a bit of each show.

Till next time... Happy Quilting

MSU football

Time to get dressed, get out the tandem and tailgate! Go Green, Go White!



Till next time... Happy Quilting!

Michigan Quilt Network Showcase 2009

I've just spent 2 days at the Michigan Quilt Network's Showcase 2009. They had great quilts and I saw many, many friends from all around the state.

Here's a Daisy quilt, for Daisy!























This quilt was called "Stargazing Down Under" that I snapped for Ruth D.

This quilt is "Sizzling Sampler" and the owner won many of the blocks from a UFO raffle!























Here's my colleague Julie at our MSU Museum booth. We are selling books, quilts and fabric for $1.50/yard. I'll be working again on Sunday, so stop by, say hello and buy some great stuff!














Till next time..... Happy Quilting!

The Mermaid Quilt

Around 1993 I hired Charlotte Warr Anderson to teach at my Northern Michigan Quilter's Getaway retreat. I admire her work tremendously and for my money, she is the best living quiltmaker! I didn't have time to take her workshop so with the help of 10 friends, we hired Charlotte to teach us a private workshop in one of our homes. My project was to make a quilt of my daughter Colleen as a mermaid. During the workshop I got the pattern for her body drawn and her face appliqued. I also chose fabric for her body. I got stuck on the background to put her on. 10 years later (I think) I heard Charlotte was going to teach a workshop in Flint. I signed up for the workshop and brought my mermaid. At this point I had her hair appliqued to her face. I told Charlotte I was stuck on the background and in 2 minutes she had drawn the waves! Again I was amazed by her talent and willingness to share. Her waves were perfect, but because I was a unsure about where to start appliqueing them, the mermaid went back into her bin. Meanwhile I made many other quilts and was working on finishing Unfinished Projects and my Colleen grew up. She started asking if I was ever going to finish her mermaid quilt, so I decided to be brave and jump back in and finish it this time. So you see how far I've gotten. Now with an extra day off work I'm piecing triangles for an Ocean Waves border. Then I'll be appliqueing fish, sea horses, coral and plants to keep Colleen company.

Till next time....... Happy Quilting!